You have a devoted owner who wants to do whatever they can to help their dog find a job. You know this owner is pretty good about managing their dog’s aggression per others that know the owner.

Flyball has rules about aggression. Putting an aggressive dog on lanes could be a liability to the club, owner of the dog and to the dog. A dog like this could start or participate in fight. A dog like this could freak out for no apparent reason.

Do you give this owner and dog a chance? Do you speak it over with the club and see what they want to do and are willing?

Do you just find a polite way to tell the owner that flyball is not a sport for them at this time?

Aggression is not something to be taken lightly.

Kim

First, let me say thank you to Larry for giving me access to post topics. I will start off by a less controversial topic as this is my first ever blog entry as the topic starter. Down the road I promise to think of something that will get the juices flowing. Shoot, even this topic could get heated depending on how strongly people feel only dogs that can run full time without issues and without fear of the dog shutting down.

So I would like to hear more about how everyone tries to help their dog(s) overcome fears so they can participate in flyball. This is a topic dear to my heart since I have a border collie that has many fears.

And if you feel you have exhausted your options and your dog is still not comfortable when do you finally say enough is enough and retire them? How long do you work on trying to make flyball fun for them? What if the dog shows some promise and is seemingly starting to enjoy the sport at times, do you continue working with said dog?

Basically, what have you done to try and help a dog overcome their fears and when do you finally just give up and allow the dog to be a loving pet only?

Kim

Every now and then, someone comes up with a good suggestion only to have it ignored or shot down without a thought. Lori Whitney, Rapids Intens-A-Flyrs flyball team had a good suggestion about changes to the NAFA point system but it doesn’t look like the NAFA Board of Directors even gave it a thought, and if they did, it’s not reflected in the minutes. You can read the minutes of the February 9, 2008 Las Vegas, NV Board Meeting here and Lori’s suggestion here.

Point System

In case you need a refresher, here is the point structure of both NAFA and U-FLI:

NAFA (Section 8.1 of the NAFA Rules)

Each time a team races in a NAFA® sanctioned Flyball tournament with a recorded time under 24 seconds, each dog racing in that heat will receive 25 points toward a Flyball title; under 28 seconds each dog racing in that heat will receive 5 points; under 32 seconds each dog racing in that heat will receive 1 point; provided that a NAFA® judge is present and at least four teams compete. Each of the four teams must actually compete. All four teams may be from the same club provided each team registered with NAFA® was given an equal opportunity to enter, but chose not to.

U-FLI (Section 7.1 of the U-FLI Rules)

Dogs will receive points toward individual U-FLI titles based on the team’s time. Each dog listed as participating in a heat will be awarded points. No points will be awarded for heats in which a team received a forfeit, no finish, interference, fouling, or break out. Teams that receive an estimated time will be awarded U-FLI points.

Teams times	Points earned
19.999 seconds and under	30 points per heat
20 seconds up to 24.999 seconds	25 points per heat
25 seconds up to 29.999 seconds	15 points per heat
30 seconds up to 35.000 seconds	10 points per heat

Each of the dogs on a winning team in a heat will receive an additional 5 bonus points for that heat. If the team is racing against an Exhibition or Pickup Team, then no bonus points will be available.

Basic Suggestion

The point to Lori’s suggestion is that not every dog runs a 4-second heat and some teams never run under 24 seconds and are unable to achieve some of the basic titles. So, she suggests changes to the point system to allow dogs to be awarded 5 points for under 32 seconds, 10 points for under 28 seconds, and 25 points for under 24 seconds.

Recognition

I’ve said this before but it falls on deaf ears. Slower teams and slower dogs are not recognized by NAFA and this is just one more example of it. U-FLI does a much better job of recognizing slower teams and dogs. The U-FLI championship system and their point system are stark examples of this.

Dogs on these slower teams deserve titles even though they are not speed demons. These dogs work just as hard, if not harder, than dogs making 4-second runs. These slower teams and dogs are the heart and soul of what make’s flyball a sport for all dogs but they are least recognized in NAFA.

Larry

U-FLI’s tag line is “The Ultimate Dogsport for Family and Fun,” but what is it like to play the game when you have children along. It takes a great amount of organizing to get your self, the dogs, and the equipment to a tournament, add little kids and all their stuff and well, Whew! So how do these moms and dads do it?… why do they do it?Here are the thoughts and opinions of some from around the country, but first let me introduce them:

• Jackie: Mother of two boys of early elementary school age. They’ve been playing flyball since before the boys were born.
• Pam: Mother of three teen girls. Been playing flyball since her girls were early elementary school age.
• Bev: Mother of two boys. One teen, one middle school. Been playing flyball since they were elementary school age. Bev’s boys have earned the highest title possible in the U-FLI Junior Handler program.
• Trish: Mother of a one-year old. Been playing flyball since right before becoming pregnant.
• Me: Mother of two girls. One teen, one middle school. Been playing flyball since girls were early elementary school age.

What got you involved in flyball?

Jackie and Bev were involved in other animal sports, Jackie in horse showing, Bev in dog obedience. Jackie came to flyball with her dog that ran the cross country course with her. Bev was looking for an activity the dogs could do while she was show chair and unable to compete. The rest of us came to the sport as many do… looking for an outlet and focus for our high-energy dog.

What made it stick?

It was fun for the whole family. It was a sport that everyone in the family could do and could do together. The team component of the game… fun people, supportive people.

What life lessons do you think your kids have drawn out of the flyball experience (or are drawing)?

Jackie: Playing well with others, learning to take care of their pets, learning how to train. My boys are very compassionate, and I think it has a lot to do with all the rescue work we do as a family.

Bev: Flyball only rounds out the balance I feel. Its part of the big picture so to speak. They learn that life doesn’t always hand you a win. That was hardest for my oldest to learn, he is always on the All Star Team for whatever sports he plays. He has learned that our dogs are athletes, just as he is, and their mind and bodies need to be taken care of if he expects the best out of them. He has learned that conditioning is part of the big picture in flyball and includes that portion of caring for the dogs in his daily routine.

Trish: Right now, Max is learning to trust adults, other than just his parents. He will willingly go to any adult on our team if Mom and Dad are busy. As he gets older, I think he’ll also pick up the proper respect and treatment of animals, as well as what it means to participate in a team sport.

Pam: Definitely being a team player. There was a job for everyone from pottying dogs to ball shagging. Making them responsible individuals as a team player. Knowing how to run their dog beside teammates and taking practice seriously. Taking instructions from others beside their parents.

Me: Group dynamics and how adults interact. They will be so much better prepared for life in the “grown up world of work” from their exposure to all the different personalities they have observed over the years being involved in flyball. They have also learned about the responsibility of caring for animals as well as following through on commitments you make to others to do what you say you will do and be where you say you will be.

Do you think it’s shaped them in some way? How?

Jackie: Absolutely. They are great travelers - a 9 hour car ride is nothing to them! They can get up at 5 am, and go all day. They learn to respect the adults at tournaments, and follow directions. They also help me out a lot when we have to go without daddy - due to his work schedule.

Bev: Yes. Trevor has learned that in order to play with the big boys (so to speak, since it is mostly dominated by adults) that he can’t sit his pup butt on the porch and whine about the `what if`s`. He has learned that he has to go out and give it his all.

By playing this sport it has molded him into the young man that he is. It has allowed him to meet others not as athletic as he is and to see them as equals on the playing field while at the same time, showing him that he is not always an equal to those he is running against.

Pam: It has built up their confidence.

Trish: I think Max is definitely more outgoing for his age because of the exposure he’s had to everyone. He’s also a little more daring, willing to pet dogs other than his own.

What makes a tournament fun for your child?

For the younger children it’s connecting with their “flyball friends”. Children from other teams they only get to see at flyball tournaments. They also enjoy that the grown ups give them jobs that give them a chance to contribute to the team. Some really enjoy the freedom to get really dirty and covered in dog hair and mom doesn’t get on their case.

As the kids get older, it’s running a dog and hanging out with their “flyball friends”. The older kids love being treated as an equal in the ring. The rules don’t change from adult to kid. They are expected to play with as much skill as the adults do and love that the adults give them their trust and the responsibility.

How do you organize it all… stuff for the tournament, stuff for the dogs, and stuff for the kids?

Everyone’s response was along the lines of “A really Big Vehicle”. Seriously, though, they make lists, they keep to a routine, they make the kids responsible for a portion of the packing, and they keep some things packed all the time so it’s just grab and go.

Advice for others taking up flyball with kids in tow.

• Less is sometimes more… A few toys for down time, but letting them run and play is the best.
• Books on tape or a portable DVD player for the long car ride.
• A Pack N Play for the really little ones.
• Make it fun and keep things light.
• Enjoy the time you are getting to spend together; it is so precious in our busy world.
• Do it… it will be the best family fun and you will be making memories that you all will keep for a lifetime.

Connie

Note: “The Ultimate Dogsport for Family and Fun” is a registered trademark of United Flyball League International (U-FLI)

They are a sight to behold and a joy to handle.  Some of them are not the fastest out there but they are amazing in their own right.  They are the dogs that can run the flyball race themselves… they only have a handler out there because that’s the rules.They are the dogs that you can say “line up” to and they position themselves for a recall from the box.  They will hold their spot till you get to the back of the lane and call them. As their handler it doesn’t matter when you release… if you are early they will adjust their own pass, if you are late they are jumping out of your hands when the outbound dog is at the “right” hurdle.

As you hold them in the back of the lane you feel their energy build.  They press up against you trembling with excitement.  They know the judge’s whistle when there is an early start and you can tell because they relax, only to wind up again as the lights start their countdown again.

At the back of the lane they do their little routine with you, a few tugs and a few spins, then they turn themselves around, position themselves and focus for the next race.

They see the crates go in the car and know that practice or a tournament is on the way.  On the way to practice they lean into the turns before you’ve made them. They know they are tournament bound when you hit the freeway and they settle into a nice nap.

They train the new handlers and the green dogs.  They just love the sport and are happiest when they are out flying over the jumps being part of the action.

Connie